MANILA — Progressive organizations marched towards the United States Embassy along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 13, to denounce President Benigno S. Aquino III’s “free trade” agenda and “Arroyo-nomics” in this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held in Japan.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said that over the past administrations, free trade has been proven a complete failure, which is used by multi-national corporations to plunder the country’s rich natural resources.
Makabayan Coaliton vice-president and former Gabriela Women’s Party representative Liza Maza said that rich countries attending the APEC will not tackle workers’ wage, housing projects for the poor, and other social services but, instead, on how to save their economic interests.
Bayan said that the Aquino administration is selling the country cheap by opening up the Philippine economy for more foreign investments rather than devolping the country’s industy for its own gain. The groups Bayan reminded Aquino that full economic liberalization will be detrimental to the country’s economy in the long run. (Photos by Janess Ann J. Ellao / Bulatlat.com)
The people in Luzon might very well be the world's most protest-prone people in the world. Why don't they get a life, a job, and spend some time chilling out.